Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Announce September Dallas Visit

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers made their fans happy twice over this morning with the announcement of a new album and a slew of North American tour dates taking place in late summer. The album, Hypnotic Eye, due out on Reprise Records July 29, is Petty's 16th studio album and his first in four years. However, as part of a bonus offer, copies of the record will also be included in the ticket price for the 30-date tour, which features fellow rock legend Steve Winwood as opener and will pass through the Dallas area on September 26 at American Airlines Center.

Petty has long had a prickly relationship with the record industry, having railed against raising sticker prices for his records all the way back in the early '80s and more recently written a whole album about it, 2002's The Last DJ. So it's not too surprising to see him go all-out deluxe on this release: besides the concert offer, Hypnotic Eye will be available on CD, digital, vinyl (1- and 2-LP versions), and even Blu-ray formats. Yikes.

Of course what's of interest to all but the most diehard fans at this stage is likely hearing Petty's hits from days of yore, i.e. seeing him in concert. Tickets for the American Airlines Center stop go on sale to the general public Saturday, June 7 at 10 a.m. Presale offers for "Highway Companian Club Legacy" members begin Monday, June 2. More info is available at tompetty.com.

Petty being Petty, that great MTV star of the '80s, he made today's announcement in video form. It even hearkens back to the classic "You Got Lucky" video from 1982:

We Recommend

Boy howdy, these two on the same bill....yay! One of the only things that could trump TP and the H's is SW. To hear him play his solo stuff (Arc of a Diver) , Traffic, Blind Faith would be be sheer bliss!

Top Steve Winwood Songs:

-John Barleycorn Must Die

-Sea of Joy

-Can't Find MY Way Home

-While You See a Chance

-Mr. Fantasy

-Low Spark

And then you have the "protector" of 60's rock himself-Mr. Tom Petty. No one channels old blues, The Byrds and 60's jangle pop quite like TP.